Shani Darden is a well-recognized and admired name in Hollywood. After all, she’s considered the secret behind the flawless faces of an endless list of celebrities.

Shani’s passion for simple, yet effective solutions has earned her clients’ trust and respect in a town where beauty, health, and wellness standards are high. She sets herself apart with a results-oriented approach to skin care and the ability to treat a wide range of skin care conditions.

BITB spoke with Shani about how she first got started in the skincare business, treatments for women in every decade to maintain healthy skin and her favorite beauty products.

1. Tell us your story. Who / what motivated you to launch your own skincare line?

I’ve been obsessed with skincare for as long as I can remember. I used to make face masks when I was little and begged my mom to take me to the dermatologist at a young age. When I finally became an esthetician, I was fortunate enough to work for a dermatologist, Dr. Erma Benitez, and I saw a lot of young people with acne and it motivated me to want to help people with their skin. This is when my love for retinol really came into play too, because it can really make a big difference with acne as well as boosting collagen, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, and decreasing pigmentation. I’m really excited to release the rest of my line in the next couple of months too.

2. What are the most effective treatments for a woman who wants to maintain healthy, beautiful skin in her 20s, 30s-40s, 50 plus, etc.?

I love chemical peels! They’re one of my favorite treatments to do. They keep your skin looking young by exfoliating the top layer of skin so you always have a nice glow. It’s really important to remove that layer of dead skin cells on the surface so that products can penetrate deeply into the skin.

I love to use microcurrent to tone, tighten, and lift. It helps to improve the facial contour, tone skin, and reduce wrinkles.

I’m really into LED light therapy as well. It’s great for decreasing fine lines and wrinkles and boosting collagen in the skin, as well as killing acne. It’s noninvasive and anyone can use it! I have a full Lightstim LED bed that you can lay in for 40 minutes at a time. It’s amazing! It builds collagen and elastin to help reduce wrinkles and tighten the skin, temporarily relieves muscle soreness and joint pain, and increases blood flow. You leave feeling incredible and rejuvenated after an LED bed session!

3. As a skin care & beauty expert, you probably take great care of your skin. What products do you recommend most to your clients and why?

IS Clinical Cleansing Complex – A gentle, yet effective cleanser is always the first step. I love the IS Clinical Cleansing Complex because it removes makeup really well without stripping the skin.

Retinol Reform & Texture Reform – Retinol is one of the most important things you can do for your skin. I always recommend starting as early as your twenties. My Retinol Reform is highly effective but doesn’t dry your skin out or cause peeling like prescription retinol. It smooths out fine lines and wrinkles, boosts collagen, and brightens skin! It also helps with acne which I think is a huge benefit.

Texture Reform is a more gentle Retinol that will help with scarring, acne, and pigmentation. You can alternate nights with Retinol Reform if you find that you’re unable to use Retinol Reform daily.

Dr. Nigma Serum No 1 – I live for this Serum! The hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin and the ‘Light Water Technology’ helps the absorption of the peptides and hyaluronic acid, so it’s going to be amazing for elasticity and hydration.

Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen – Using sunscreen daily is non-negotiable and the absolute most important thing you can do. I use Everyday Sunscreen by Supergoop, because it’s not greasy yet still hydrating, non-comedogenic, and packed with antioxidants, making it actually great for the skin.

Deesse Pro LED Mask – I use my Deesse Pro mask every single night for twenty minutes. LED light is incredible for boosting collagen in the skin, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, and making your skin just glow. It also helps products to more deeply penetrate the skin, so you get the full benefits of them.